Tour Got `L` Knocked Out Of It

LAUDERHILL -- Memo to Merrill Lynch executives: Great idea bringing the Shoot-Out to the LPGA. Nancy Lopez winning it is just what you needed. Only next time, get the hats right.

Perhaps we should explain: As part of the pre-tournament festivities for this week`s Phar-Mor at Inverrary, they staged a $10,200 shootout Tuesday at Inverrary East. A lot of the big names were in the field, a good mix of old and new LPGA players and a substantial gallery turned out to watch. Everything was perfect when the Merrill Lynch folks started handing out caps for a pre- round photo op.

One small problem. The caps, emblazoned with the corporate logo, also had PGA Tour stenciled on the side. JoAnne Carner, one of the reasons the LPGA has come as far as it has, handed it back. ``Sorry,`` she said, ``I`m not the PGA Tour.``

Well, as the French say, Vive la difference. The Shoot-Out and the LPGA could have a future, especially if they can figure out a way to speed it up a little (the nine holes took more than 3 hours and 20 minutes) and how to get Lopez to win the final hole with an exquisite chip over a bunker from a fluffy lie in the rough.

``That was fun,`` Lopez said after her chip, good for $3,000, eliminated Danielle Ammaccapane. ``But I`m starting to get a little tired. I played 27 holes today.``

Some of the other players wished they could say that. Tammie Green was eliminated on the first hole, No. 10, and Carner on No 11. Deb Richard, who has the opportunity to win a $1 million bonus with a victory this week, lost out at No. 12, and Nancy Scranton went out with a bogey at No. 13. Colleen Walker, last week`s winner, went out at No. 14, Judy Dickinson was eliminated at No. 15, Amy Alcott bogeyed her way out at No. 16, and Cindy Rarick lost by inches to Lopez on a chipoff at No. 17.

Both Lopez and Ammaccapane parred the 18th hole, and Lopez, one of the game`s best chippers, edged Ammaccapane, one of the tour`s bright young stars.

Merrill Lynch`s interest in the LPGA is another example of the marketing turnaround in women`s golf. The commodity is viable once again, and Merrill Lynch is planing to test the market at at least one more LPGA tournament and make a decision on whether it will make the same kind of investment in women`s golf as it has on the PGA Tour.

If it does, it will need to change the hats and tinker with the format. But the appeal, as evidenced by Lopez`s warm reception, is built in.

PHAR-MOR AT INVERRARY

-- WHERE: Inverrary Resort and Country Club, Lauderhill.

-- WHEN: Friday-Sunday.

-- PURSE: $500,000 ($75,000 to winner; $1 million bonus to Deb Richard, winner of last year`s Phar-Mor at Youngstown, Ohio, if she wins here).

-- FORMAT: 54 holes of stroke play. Field of 144 cut to low 70 players and ties after 36 holes.

-- SCHEDULE AND TICKETS: Today--Pro-Am; first tee time is 7 a.m.; $10. Thursday--Pro-Am; first tee time is 7 a.m.; $10. Friday--First round; first tee time is 7:15 a.m.; $15 at gate. Saturday--Second round; first tee time is 7:15 a.m.; $15 at gate. Sunday--Final round; first tee time is 8:45 a.m.; $15 at gate.

-- ADVANCE TICKETS: Available at Phar-Mor stores. Tickets at $10 are good any day. Clubhouse badge ($40) good for entire week. VIP package ($130), four badges good all week and one VIP parking pass. Patron clubhouse ($250) includes 25 tickets good any day, plus parking.